The Levant Foundation is a private, non-profit grantmaking foundation based in Houston, Texas, established in 1999. The organization is committed to furthering knowledge about Middle Eastern culture and history, with particular emphasis on the complex interrelations of the three monotheistic religions born in the Middle East: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Operating within an increasingly diverse society, the Foundation partners with universities, institutions of fine art, and religious and research institutions to sponsor and fund artistic, academic, and educational programs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$181K
-0.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-64.4% YoY
Grant Count
8
-50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$153K
-28.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Levant Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission centers on renewing equilibrium in international relations, encouraging dialogue, and generating a climate conducive to a wider sense of democracy. As stated by Jamal Daniel, the Foundation aims to "bring those who are marginalized and vulnerable back to the mainstream of humanity" through contributions that restore both reason and faith.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Artistic Programs: Fine arts initiatives related to Middle Eastern culture
- Academic Initiatives: Academic programs and scholarships focused on Middle Eastern studies, religions, and Levant identity
- Educational Programs: Educational initiatives promoting interfaith dialogue among Christianity, Islam, and Judaism
- Education and Human Services: Broader educational and human services support
Grantmaking
The Foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual giving. Recent financial data indicates:
Grant Range
**: $2,000 to $2,500,000
Average Grant
**: $268,200
Ready to take the next step with The Levant Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, the District of Columbia, and Virginia, though its work extends to supporting institutions internationally, including partnerships with universities and research institutions in the Middle East region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $181,384–$194,300
- Total Liabilities: $535
- Annual Revenue: $565,100–$3.49 million
- Annual Expenses: $3.48 million
The Foundation maintains relatively modest assets while distributing substantial annual grants, indicating a pass-through or active distribution model.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $181,384 | $181,818 | $194,301 |
| Revenue | $1,262,616 | $3,487,533 | $565,091 |
| Expenses | $1,265,047 | $3,480,304 | $4,500,590 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,235,782 | $3,493,477 | $5,091,033 |
| Net Investment Income | — | $33 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $9,542 | $447 | $82,556 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The University of Connecticut Foundation Inc ($500,000), American Foundation for St George Hospital Inc ($484,000), Queen Rania Foundation for Edu & Dev - USA ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kuwait - America Foundation Washington, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| UNICEF USA New York, NY | General Support | $12,000 |
| The Museum of Fine Arts Houston Houston, TX | General Support | $58,795 |
| The University of Connecticut Foundation Inc Storrs, CT | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM | $500,000 |
| Art League Houston Houston, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| Carla R Salem | Scholarship | $38,177 |
| American Foundation for St George Hospital Inc Mclean, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $484,000 |
| Queen Rania Foundation for Edu & Dev - USA Washington, DC | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jamal Daniel: Founder and primary voice of the Foundation's mission
- Gregory Keever: Chair, Director & President
- John Howland: Director
- Michelle Upton: Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| gregory keever | CHAIR, DIRECTOR & PRESIDENT | 4 | — |
| JOHN HOWLAND | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| Michelle Upton | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DEB LOSCUITO | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| Marie Vajdak | Secretary | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Levant Foundation fund?
The Foundation's mission centers on renewing equilibrium in international relations, encouraging dialogue, and generating a climate conducive to a wider sense of democracy. As stated by Jamal Daniel, the Foundation aims to "bring those who are marginalized and vulnerable back to the mainstream of humanity" through contributions that restore both reason and faith. Primary funding focus areas include: • **Artistic Programs**: Fine arts initiatives related to Middle Eastern culture • **Academic In…
How do I apply for a grant from The Levant Foundation?
The Foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual giving. Recent financial data indicates: • **Total giving (2023)**: $3.48 million in expenses • **Total giving (cumulative)**: $3.43 million reported across recent years • **Typical grant range**: $2,000 to $2,500,000 • **Median grant size**: $35,000 • **Average grant size**: $268,200 • **Number of grants**: 14 grants documented in recent activity The Foundation has provided scholarships for studying Middle East issues, religions, a…
Where does The Levant Foundation make grants?
The Foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, the District of Columbia, and Virginia, though its work extends to supporting institutions internationally, including partnerships with universities and research institutions in the Middle East region.
What size grants does The Levant Foundation award?
In 2024, The Levant Foundation awarded 8 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $153K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Levant Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Levant Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Levant Foundation's EIN?
The Levant Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1637973. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Levant Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
William Z Hayes Foundation
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$629K
Grants
4
Total Given
$28K
Tr Uw Jane James Cook Item 19
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$861K
Grants
11
Total Given
$41K
Forsyth Fbo Leonard Wood Memorial
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$320K
Grants
1
Total Given
$18K
Teas Foundation
AMARILLO, TX
Assets
$3.0M
Grants
3
Total Given
$138K
Crystelle Waggoner Charitable Trust
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$13.5M
Grants
41
Total Given
$3.9M
Nelson & Debbie Fox Charitable Fdtn
LUBBOCK, TX
Assets
$329K
Grants
9
Total Given
$90K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Levant Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Levant Foundation to a real strategy.